How can the traditional classroom rule for "some and any"?

[Molly]

How can the traditional classroom rule for "some and any" account for examples such as these?

Anything you can do I can do better.
Come round any time.

[MrPedantic]

What would you call the "traditional classroom rule", M?

Something like this?

1. "Some" – positive statements; polite questions.
2. "Any" – all other questions; negative statements.

MrP

[Molly]

I know of no other. Do you?

[MrPedantic]

What about this, as a general rule of thumb:

1. Some X: X is limited or restricted in some way.
2. Any X: X is unlimited or unrestricted.
3. Any X: applies to all.
4. Some X: applies to a part.

?

MrP

[Molly]

I'd prefer:

1. Some X: X is limited or restricted in some way.
2. Any X: X is unlimited or unrestricted.
3. Any X: applies to all or none.
4. Some X: applies to a part.

Nice to know you've been listening though.

[MrPedantic]

That's interesting. What would be an example where it applied to "none"?

MrP

[Molly]

I don't like any of Britney's songs.

[MrPedantic]

The "none" in that example derives from the "not" in "don't":

¬ any

MrP

[Molly]

I think not.

"I don't like some/any of your posts."

[MrPedantic]

1. I like any of your posts. (Each one is wonderful.)
2. I like some of your posts. (A few are wonderful.)

Cf.

3. I don't like any of your posts. (Each one is not wonderful.)
4. I don't like some of your posts. (Some are not wonderful.)

It's just the "not" from "don't", old thing. Nothing special.

MrP

[Molly]

[MrPedantic]

And would your definition apply to all derivations of "some" and "any" ("anyone", "somebody", etc.)?

MrP

[Molly]

I don't know. Shall we test it?

[MrPedantic]

Let's see:

1. This could be done by somebody. (At least one person is able to do it, i.e. a part of a whole.)

2. This could be done by anybody. (No restrictions; all in the group could do it.)

What do you think?

MrP

[Molly]

Sounds fine. Next?